Fortunately, HSV can be controlled by following careful health and hygiene guidelines and sometimes incorporating topical ointments into a patients’ drug therapy as prescribed by your physician. Most medical literature subscribes to the fact that if applied at the first sensations of an outbreak, these topical medications can significantly decrease the severity and/or length of inflammation. As with all medications the concerns over patients’ building resistance to a drug are present, but are not emphasized with these topical medications.

Penciclovir, or Denavir®

Penciclovir is an antiviral medication dispensed in a 1% concentration cream for the topical treatment of cold sores associated with herpes simplex virus. In a brand-name form this cream is known as Denavir, a product of the Novartis Corporation. Results of penciclovir use have proven it to be one of the more effective medications at limiting the life-cycle of viral shedding, or the presence of the virus in non-exhibiting skin cells, and sores themselves. Typical applications are 2-3 times daily depending on the treatment course your doctor chooses.

Acyclovir, or Zovirax®

Zovirax is a 5% concentration of acyclovir medication in a cream form from GlaxoSmithKline that is a popular topical agent for the treatment of cold sores associated with HSV. It has proven effective, when applied multiple times daily, at lessening the length of a cold sore outbreak. Acyclovir is overall one of the most popularly prescribed antiviral medications for the treatment of HSV. It is also frequently prescribed in a tablet form for either genital or oral outbreaks.

Caring for an Outbreak

HSV outbreaks can range in severity from mildly discomforting in the case of an isolated cold sore, to extremely painful and uncomfortable in the case of a genital flare-up. Along with a medication regimen you might also discuss with your doctor how to otherwise relieve the attending pain and discomfort of outbreaks. Most likely you will receive information on personal hygiene, use of cool compresses and aspirin to soothe rashes, sores, and uncomfortable inflammation, besides good-sense advice on avoiding sexual contact during the course of a flare-up. Your physician should discuss “viral shedding” with you. Viral shedding refers to the characteristic of the disease wherein skin cells can retain the herpes virus even when you are not in the midst of an outbreak. So, there always remains some small percentage of likelihood that unsafe sexual contact can continue to be a risk for your partner.